If a space shuttle was in trouble and could not reach the space station, what if the shuttle carried several human space capsules for each astronaut. The astronaut would descend through the atmosphere in these capsules and when the atmospheric pressure reached a certain altitude a parachute would deploy. Could an astronaut survie these g forces and the atmospheric heating?
2006-11-17 00:42:34 · 6 answers · asked by timespiral 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Well this has have been given a serious thought by the people who designed the SHUTTLE and its very much feasible. But then taking into consideration that a space shuttle is very small has a limited space for cargo including capsules would not be cost effective. The space shuttle launch itself cost $60 million per launch. And also since the amount of time space shuttle spend on mission would decrease once the International Space Station comes online . The ISS has those kind for capsules for emergency E-VAC.
2006-11-17 00:56:15 · answer #1 · answered by AstroWiz 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whatever speed the shuttle is going at is the same speed they would hit the Earth's atmosphere for re-entry. That speed of entry causes the friction / heating.
If the Space shuttle could eject the capsule backwards to reduce the forward speed, and have boosters slow them down even further, that may help.
Enter too sharply and you get into thicker atmosphere too soon ... that makes even more friction, so you can't just drop.
Various parachutes can be used to slow down along the way.
It would take hours to descend that way going from burning hot to sub freezing cold.
2006-11-17 00:55:31 · answer #2 · answered by wizebloke 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe no, astronaut inside the capsule might be toast be for he lands on earth. the capsule can only fit one person and it must be small if it can put in to space shuttle. because the capsule is small, the astronaut will be very close to the wall of the capsule. he will suffer from extreme heat from the capsule while entering the atmosphere. if he manage to go through the atmosphere, the para-suit (assume that capsule only have that), only will reduce the speed a bit. if he lands on sea, he will be OK, but on land, he will be "crack".
2006-11-17 01:09:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Individual capsules for each astronaught would be very impractical. They would be too costly and take up too much space. You don't see cruise ships with individual rowboats for each passenger in the event of the ship being damaged and sinking. An escape capsule, if built and carried into space, would have to be large enough to take all hands, or half minimum. For the moment, I believe the feeling is that it would be less expensive to send someone up after a crew rather than to launch the extra weight of a life raft capsule on every mission.
2006-11-17 01:55:28 · answer #4 · answered by SteveA8 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok we have a space resue ball already in space. But i don't know if it can come back to earth.
2006-11-17 00:50:27 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You mean like this?
2006-11-17 00:56:18 · answer #6 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋